Castlehaven (Cork) 1-12 Cratloe (Clare) 0-11 – after extra-time
Brian Hurley inspired Castlehaven to victory over Clare champions Cratloe in the Munster SFC after extra-time in Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday.
Waterford champions Rathgormack will be the Haven's opponents in the last four of this year’s provincial senior football championship following a tense encounter that only sprung to life in the final quarter and extra-time.
A forgettable first half ended 0-4 apiece with Cathal O’Hanlon, Enda Boyce, Cathal McInerney (mark) and Conor Ryan on target for Cratloe. Jack Cahalane (two), Brian Hurley (free) and Rory Maguire provided Castlehaven’s scores.
Brian Hurley and Diramuid Ryan exchanged points at the beginning of the second period. Then, Castlehaven were awarded a close range free that Hurley easily converted, as did Cathal McInerney at the opposite end.
Brian Hurley continued his one-man crusade with a fourth point to edge the Haven back in front. An evenly fought encounter was level for a seventh time when McInerney (free) split the posts after 41 minutes.
Castlehaven lost Johnny O’Regan to a black card with 14 minutes remaining but came close to netting a goal when goalkeeper Padraigh Chaplin raced from his goal-line to deny Conor O’Driscoll.
An exciting ending saw Brian Hurley fire over from distance on the stroke of full time. More drama occurred during 4 minutes of injury time however, with David Collins answering Brian Hurley and Enda Boyce replying to Mark Collins efforts to take the tie to extra-time.
Chances were few and far between in the first additional period until substitiute Robbie Minihane brilliantly found the bottom corner to edge Castlehaven 1-9 to 0-9 ahead.
Cathal McInerney replied from a free before the sides changed ends for the last time. McInerney repeated that feat to leave the bare minimum between the teams but a nerveless Brian Hurley free and fisted effort made it 1-11 to 0-11 shortly after.
Jamie O’Dricoll had the final say, fisting over to send Castlehaven through.
Castlehaven: Darragh Cahalane; Johnny O’Regan, Rory Maguire (0-01), Ronan Walsh; Thomas O’Mahony, Damien Cahalane, Mark Collins (0-01); Conor Cahalane, Andrew Whelton; Jack O’Neill, Brian Hurley (0-07, 3f), Sean Browne; Cathal Maguire, Jack Cahalane (0-02), Michael Hurley.
Subs: Conor O’Driscoll for Browne (41), Robbie Minihane (1-00) for Whelton (45), Ciarán O’Sullvian for O’Neill (47), Jamie O’Driscoll (0-01) for O’Regan (57), Jamie O’Driscoll for Maguire (ET 2nd half), David Whelton for O’Mahony (ET 2nd half), Michal Maguire for B Hurley (et 2nd half).
Cratloe: Padraigh Chaplin; David Collins (0-01), Kevin Harnett, Liam Markham; Enda Boyce (0-02), Mike Brennan, Rian McNamara; Diarmuid Ryan (0-01), Conor Ryan (0-01); Shane Neville, Sean Collins, Conal O’Hanlon (0-02, 1m); Rian Considine, Cathal McInerney (0-04f), Padraic Collins.
Subs: Jack McInerney for Considine (52), Ogie Murphy for McNamara (52), Tommy Rooney for O’Hanlon (54), Conal O’Hanlon for Collins (ET 2nd half).
Referee: Jonathan Hayes (Limerick).
